Thursday, October 31, 2013

II Corinthians 4:16: The Apostle Paul speaks of our outer nature wasting away, even as our inner nature is being renewed every day. Do not put your trust in your “exterior decoration”. Paul wants you to remember that there is much more about you that matters. It is your interior life. This is a Wekivaword.

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Romans 16:3-16: If we look at the course of Christian faith, we can describe it in relational terms. People are being drawn into good relationship with God, through Christ. And people are drawn together, in good relationship, by the action of the Holy Spirit. As in all relationships, God’s love surpasses everything we know. This is a Wekivaword.

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Ephesians 6:1-4 There is an urgent need for families to overcome strife. Refuse to believe that this cannot happen—refuse to believe that we are unable to change. Refuse to believe that we are unable to grow, learn respect, tenderness and honor—again or for the first time, in our families. We have what we need to live together in harmony: The way of Jesus Christ. This is a Wekivaword.

Friday, October 25, 2013

Hebrews 13:18: To be honest in all things, is to be honest in little things as well as big things. If you are honest in little things, you learn to be honest through and through. If you borrow anything—you will return it. If you owe anyone anything—you will repay it. If you say you will do anything—you will do it. Always, everywhere, under all circumstances, you will live the truth. This is a Wekivaword.

Thursday, October 24, 2013

John 18:37-38: What is Truth? This is the question Pilate asks. Truth is often nearer than we know. (Because God is always near). Truth can be found through pain or even when you are struggling. Everyone wants to know the truth—don’t they? Don’t you? Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and Life. This is a Wekivaword.

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

2 Samuel 11:26-12:15: Along the way of life, we falter. We suffer. We make mistakes. We need to be forgiven. Today, you may find yourself in that difficult position. Is there something, today, you need to be forgiven of? If so, repent. Is there someone, today, you need to forgive? If so, forgive. This is a Wekivaword.

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

I Thessalonians 5:16-18: Praying constantly is like a plant that draws its nutrients from the air about it—taking in what it needs and also given forth all that it can share with others. If you neglect prayer, it is much like the child who holds its breath till it turns blue. Don’t hold your breath. Breathe! Let the wonders of prayer nurture you! This is a Wekivaword.

Friday, October 18, 2013

2 Timothy 3:1-5 & 14-17: Christians ought to be different. Different from others; different from one another. Christians are what God made us each to be; that is what you should expect of one another. And of yourself. Be different along the lines of Jesus Christ. This is a Wekivaword.

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Matthew 28:16-20: You are here this new day because God risked everything in sending us Jesus. And you are the result. Jesus has come to you, and in Him, all things are possible. All things are possible, for those who risk everything, for Him! This is a Wekivaword.

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Luke 12:48b: God is a God of words. We mean Jesus when we say “the Word” because He is the living message of God, the one through whom God speaks to us, from Scripture and today. If God places such a high value on words and the word, perhaps we should, too. Watch your words today. This is a Wekivaword.

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.” – C S Lewis, “The Four Loves”

To love is to be breakable—
So love with all you are,
Commitment unforsakeable
May leave a mark, a scar.

To love is to be bendable—
So love and limber be,
Become the one befreindable—
With lithe humility.

To love is to be vulnerable—
So love with openness,
At risk and truly honorable—
This is the way to bless.

To love is to be changeable—
By all you love each day,
Alive and rearrangeable,
So give yourself away!

This hymn text is set as an anthem by Wm. Glenn Osborne and will have its debut on Sunday, November 17 at 4 p.m. in the Knowles Chapel on the Campus of Rollins College in Winter Park at the C. S. Lewis Evensong.

Luke 19:11-27: Jesus cares about what is in your wallet, and in your checkbook, and on your balance statements and what sort of investments you are making and what sort of dividends they yield. Jesus cares even more about what comes out of your wallet, and what you write your checks for and how you use the profit from your investments and what you do with the dividends that they yield. Are you praising the Lord in your living/giving, today? This is a Wekivaword.

Friday, October 11, 2013

Psalm 90:11-17: Ask yourself: Is what I am doing centered in Christ? Am I giving Jesus my all? Have I presented myself as a living sacrifice unto God? Do I seek to define success in Christ-like ways? Have I joined with others Christians, here and now, and in all times and in all places, to bring about God’s will, today? This is a Wekivaword.

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Romans 12:1 & 2, 9-21: Out of the goodness of Christ, speak a helpful word, give a cheering smile, smooth-over a rough place in another’s path, know the delight one feels in living for God, the joy of surmounting obstacles which once seemed immovable, and the thrill of pushing the frontier of accomplishment further. This is a Wekivaword.

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Colossians 1:9-14 When you face a crisis: Pray. Pray first. Pray all along. Cry out God’s Truth by what you say and what you do. And when others face a crisis: Pray. Pray first. Pray all along. Draw God close to those in need—through prayer. May you become God’s an agent of comfort, in prayer. This is a Wekivaword.

Thursday, October 3, 2013

Philippians 4:7: There is “no understanding” the peace from Christ. There is no quantity to it. No dimensions to it. You can’t say, “According to my calculations, the peace of Jesus stretches from Point A to Point B.” The peace of Jesus is the Eternal God, breaking in on the stress of your world. Open up and let it happen to you. This is a Wekivaword.

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Sunday, October 6th is the 80th observation of World Communion Sunday, which was instituted at one of our sister congregations in 1933.

The people of Shadyside Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh, in the middle of the Great Depression and aware that the storm clouds were gathering in Europe, felt it important to show that people who love and serve the Lord Jesus Christ could be found all around the world. They understood that the most visible reminder of this truth is the table of our Lord, where all of Christ’s people are welcome, in every time and place.

This coming Sunday’s worship at our church - Wekiva Presbyterian Church in Longwood, Florida - reflects the origins of World Communion Sunday, with the Preparation for Worship and the hymn “God of Our Lives” both of which were written by Shadyside’s pastor, Dr. Hugh T. Kerr, who was observing his 20th anniversary at Shadyside the year that World Communion Sunday began.

Some years ago, I researched and wrote an extensive article about the origins of World Communion Sunday, which brought the response from the leaders of Shadyside to present me with one of the World Communion Sunday commemorative medallions that replicate the brass marker in Shadyside’s Chancel. These are normally worn only by the clergy at Shadyside, so it was a wonderful surprise and honor to receive it. I will be wearing it in worship this coming Sunday.

You may read my article on the history of World Communion Sunday, on our church website, here is the link:

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

I Corinthians 4:8-16: Paul warns about being arrogant and rude and about being puffed up in your Christian walk. He knows how far arrogance can take you from the way of Jesus Christ. But a question before you today is, will I be faithful? Will I humble myself? Will I become a fool, for Christ? This is a Wekivaword.

Holyrood Abbey - Edinburgh, Scotland

Welcome, Friends!

Welcome to this series of thoughts and reflections on the Christian journey and life in general.

My hope is that you will find ideas here that will be helpful to you, or that will be an encouragement for you to read and worship and seek as God prompts you.

If you have a church home, I hope you are a faithful member there--worshiping and sharing in education, mission and fellowship.

If you do not have a church home, I hope that God will speak to your heart to point you toward a worshiping fellowship where your faith can be lived out in tangible and meaningful ways.

If you live in Central Florida, I encourage you to visit the church I serve, Wekiva Presbyterian Church in Longwood.

If you live far away from Central Florida, you can worship with us live on Sunday mornings at 11 AM Eastern Time, by going to our church website and linking to our live webcast. Or by watching the Sunday worship in the week following. All of the services are also archived there.

I hope you will let me know what you think of what you find in these postings by posting a comment. Or by using the feature at the end of the post for fast "reactions" feedback. Just click the box that is closest to how the post strikes you.

Blessings,

- John

About Me

John A. Dalles is a Presbyterian clergyman, hymn-writer and Pittsburgh native. A graduate of Penn State, Lancaster Seminary (M. Div.) and Pittsburgh Seminary (Doctor of Ministry), he has served the First Presbyterian Church of South Bend, and Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church, Pittsburgh. Since 1997 he has served as Senior Pastor of Wekiva Presbyterian Church in Longwood, Florida (near Orlando). As a part of his ministry, Wekiva became the first church in the USA to present live webcasts of worship, a ministry inaugurated Sun., Jan. 2, 2005. Dalles is a writer of texts for hymns. His hymns have been published in hymnbooks in the USA, Canada and Australia. He has published three books of hymns, COME, O SPIRIT, SWIFT CURRENTS AND STILL WATERS, and WE TURN TO GOD. His hymn texts have also been set as choral anthems by noted sacred composers. His 2009 hymn, "God Bless the Work Your People Do" was the winning hymn in the 14th annual, highly-regarded Macalester Plymouth United Church Hymn Contest. He is married to the former Judith Taylor; they have a son, John Taylor Dalles and a daughter, Anne Elizabeth Dalles Sandoval.